Keith MacDonald took over the favourite's mantle going into today's final round, when he fashioned a four-under 69 in yesterday's windy conditions for a 140 aggregate in the PGA Senior Club Professional Championship at Finham.

The 51-year-old, who's been professional at Goodwood, West Sussex, for more than 20 years, is one shot ahead of Richmond's Nick Job, last year's runner-up.

MacDonald's great achievement over the par-73 West Midlands course is that he has dropped only one shot in two rounds, yesterday at the 354-yard 12th , which was playing into the teeth of the wind.

Playing beautifully controlled golf throughout the round, MacDonald, who earned more than #70,000 on last year's European Seniors Tour, fired five birdies in halves of 34 and 35, both two under par. His longest holed putt was a 20-footer at the 543-yard 16th.

Job, too, had an almost flawless card, dropping his only shot at the short fifth. Three other birdies meant he'd be in today's final pairing with MacDonald, just one stroke behind.

Overnight leader Martin Gray (Ladybank, Fife)was heading for a share of the lead coming up the final hole, but a tee shot into trees, then a chip out into a fluffy lie was followed by an approach shot that found a greenside bunker. Three more to get down meant a double-bogey six, a round of 74 and an aggregate of 142.